The F/A-18 Hornet is the true multi-role aircraft. It can vault from a carrier deck, bomb a target and stay to dogfight even the best enemy aircraft without missing a beat. It's the Navy's first modern-era jet intended for double duty against air- and ground-based adversaries. Armed to the hilt with Sparrow and Sidewinder air-to-air missiles, an internal cannon, and laser-guided bombs, this modern warbird was an outstanding performer in Operation Desert Storm. Strapped into a digital cockpit described as a cross between Star Wars and a video game, pilots of the F/A-18 Hornet take on the ultimate aviation job: blasting this single-seat, high-performance jet off the deck of a carrier, dropping bombs, and firing air-to-ground ordnance. Offering unmatched agility, the Hornet is the choice aircraft of the US Navy's elite Blue Angels aerobatic team.

Pictured here is a gorgeous 1:48 scale diecast replica of a US Navy F/A-18D Hornet assigned to the US Navy's VFA-82 ("Marauders Show Bird") and piloted by Commander Thomas Halley.
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Dimensions:
Wingspan: 10-inches
Length: 14-inches

Historical Account: "A Streetcar Named Desire" - The VFA-82 "Marauders" is a recently disbanded U.S. Navy strike fighter squadron formerly based at MCAS Beaufort, South Carolina. Their call sign is Streetcar, tail code is AB, and they fly the F-18 Hornet.

Following the September 11th, 2001 attacks, the Marauders deployed on September 18th, steaming for the Arabian Sea and Afghanistan. During four months of combat operations, VFA-82 delivered over 440,000 pounds of ordnance and totaled over 3000 hours in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. The Marauders returned to Beaufort on March 28th, 2002. The squadron had logged an unprecedented 159 days continuously deployed, the majority of which were combat operations.

During the latter half of 2002, the squadron trained against F-16 Falcons in Burlington, Vermont, and at one point were detached to Roosevelt Roads, Puerto Rico; NAS Fallon; and NAS Key West. During the NAS Key West detachment, Marauders pilots had the opportunity to fly against German MiG-29s.

VFA-82 was disestablished effective September 30th, 2005 in accordance with a directive issued on July 5th, 2005.